The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

RENEW Bahamas CEO Gerhard Buekes said yesterday he believes that waste-to-energy is a feasible solution for the country’s energy issues “only if” a proper study is done to determine the “quantum and composition” of waste entering facilities around the country.

During a presentation to the Bahamas Society of Engineers, Mr Buekes said that a waste-to-energy initiative could assist with present energy issues in the country, but insisted that any private company or government unit interested in this should assure that the waste element produced in The Bahamas is sufficient to sustain energy demands.

“What the country needs to understand, and it’s only when you get into the nitty-gritty that it really make sense, is how much waste is coming into the country and what the composition of waste is.

“What the country needs to understand is the quantum and composition of its waste streams before it makes a decision on that. Otherwise you leave it up to chance to see if you come up with the right solution and the financial burden is not something that the county needs at this time.”

Mr Buekes said that, to date, Renew Bahamas has not had discussions with the government concerning any waste-to-energy proposal because the company has been busy ensuring that the proposed $4m Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) remained on schedule for a May opening.

“Once you have a credible data bank of information which says the country receives x amount of waste composing of these types of materials, then the country can make a educated decision on waste to energy,” he said.

“You need to understand the amount of waste coming in to the country and what it composes of because only then can you decide what type of facility you want to put up, what is the size of the facility and what you want to achieve out of the facility by the use of technology.”

Mr Buekes said that he is unsure if waste compiled at the Harold Road landfill would solve the issue of energy for the whole of New Providence but added that the option should remain open.